Printing apparatus having automatic underlining without backspacing

ABSTRACT

A printing apparatus wherein, when an underline-start code is detected, the advance of a printing head for impressing a character immediately after said start code is stopped; the underline is printed at that spot where the character is previously impressed; and then the stopped advance of the printing head is released upon the detection of an underline end code.

United States Patent [191 Kashio Oct. 1 4, 1975 [54] PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING 3,780,846 12/1973 Kolpek et al. 197/19 AUTOMATIC U DE N WITHOUT 3,823,805 7/1974 Richards 197/ 19 3,844,397 10/1974 Richards 197/19 BACKSPACING Toshio Kashio, Tokyo, Japan Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Higashiyamoto, Japan Apr. 4, 1974 Inventor:

[73] Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 9, 1973 Japan 48-4023] US. Cl 197/19; 197/113 Int. Cl. B41J 5/30 Field of Search 197/19, 82, 113, 20, 91,

Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant ExaminerR. T. Rader Attorney, Agent, or FirmFl'ynn & Frishauf ABSTRACT A printing apparatus wherein, when an underline-start code is detected, the advance of a printing head for impressing a character immediately after said start code is stopped; the underline is printed at that spot where the character is previously impressed; and then the stopped advance of the printing head is released upon the detection of an underline end code.

6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 13 -4 UNDERLINE I BINARY KEY i COUNTER i 19 ICNHFQJRIACTER ii 7 DEVICE #25 i1126 V22 l l DECODER 45 1 M i as PRINTER A6 n -1 24SHIFTING 1 DEVICE PRINTING APPARATUS HAVING AUTOMATIC UNDERLINING WITHOUT BACKSPACING This invention relates to a printing apparatus for effectively printing a special mark, such as an underline, without backspacing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When a character or symbol is printed on the recording sheet, the addition of a special mark, such as an underline, is sometimes necessary. To underline the character or a word, printing, backspacing, and shifting operations are indispensable prerequisites. In a conventional printing apparatus or machine such as a standard typewriter, the operator performs all the backspacing operations manually, closely watching the printing head. After printing a character, the operator performs the shifting operation without fail to make preparations for the next printing. Thus, special operations, such as backspacing are needed in addition to the ordinary printing operation. This is labor-consuming and may cause erroneous printing operations. When the print data is automatically printed by reading it from a memory device, the control of the underline-printing mechanism is extremely difficult. Particularly when the print data is recorded on a magnetic or paper tape while it is being read continuously, a special mark, such as an underline or dot had to be automatically printed by accurately backspacing the printing head in a one-to-one correspondence with each printed character. This control is anything but easy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of this invention is to effectively improve these drawbacks. The invention provides a printing apparatus which is capable of automatically printing a character bearing a special mark simply by inserting special codes immediately before and after a character or a set of characters to be marked.

The present invention provides a new and improved printing apparatus comprising an input device, printing device, printing position shifting device, mark printing device and stopping device, as described below. The input device provides print data by inserting the start and end codes of a special mark immediately before and after a character or a set of characters to be marked. The printing device performs the printing operation according to the print data from the input device. The printing position shifting device is driven step by step in accordance with the printing operation of the printing device. The mark printing device adds a special mark to the printed character by detecting the start code of the mark from the input device such that the mark is printed at that spot where the character is previously impressed in succession to the start code in the step by step printing. The stopping device stops the printing operation of the mark by detecting its end code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The accompanying FIGURE is a block diagram of a printing apparatus embodying this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Although various special marks may be added to alphabetic and numerical characters, a typical example of underlining will now be described in detail. An input device 1 1 has a character input device 12 for providing character data containing an underline and an underline key 13 for giving a PRINT UNDERLINE instruction. The character input device 12 provides, for example, eight-bit binary-coded character data. A well known key input device, data processor, tape reader, etc. are available for this purpose. For example, when characters CD are to be underlined in a set of printed characters ABCDEF a coded expression AB-CD-EF is used as the print data from the input device 1 1. The binary-coded data corresponding to the character A obtained from the character input device 12 is fed to the decoder 15 of a printing device 14. The binary-coded signal is decoded in the decoder 15 to form a signal corresponding to the character A. This signal is transmitted to a printer 16 on a line L1 to print the character A on the recording sheet. The signal is further delivered from the line L1 to a delay circuit 18 through an OR gate 17 and, after a predetermined delay, to the one input terminals of AND gates 19 and 20. Since the output of a binary counter 21 in this case represents 0, there is no output from the AND gate 19. The AND gate 20 is enabled by the output from an inverter 22 and supplies its output to a printing position shifting device 24 through an OR gate 23. Thus the printing position of the printer 16 is shifted by one character a predetermined time after the character A has been printed. Similarly, the succeeding character B is then printed.

When the underline key 13 is depressed, the output signal representing the underline start code is delivered from the key 13 to a binary counter 21 to convert the output of the counter 21 into l When the signal from the counter 21 representing 1 is delivered, the output of the inverter 22 becomes 0, thereby disabling the AND gate 20 and enabling the AND gate 19.

The underline-printing data is composed, for example, of an eight-bit binary code (01000001) such that the second bit from the most significant one and the least significant bit are supplied to the input terminal of the decoder 15 via OR gates 25 and 26. Whenever there is an output from the AND gate 19, the underline-printing data is fed to the decoder 15.

Under this condition, the binary-coded data corresponding to the character C is produced from the character input device 12, and decoded in the decocer 15, thus sending the PRINT instruction of the character C from a line L(nl) to the printer 16 to print the character C. This signal giving the PRINT instruction to print the character C is delivered to the AND gate 20 through the OR gate 17 and delay circuit 18. In this case, the AND gate 20 is disabled by the output from the binary counter 21. Therefore, the printing position shifting device 24 will not be driven when the character C has been completely printed. The printing position will thus be stationary, retaining the position in which the character is just printed. The AND gate 19 will be enabled by the outputs from the delay circuit 18 and binary counter 21. The binary-coded underline data will be fed to the decoder 15 through OR gates 25 and 26 to be decoded therein. The PRINT-UNDERLINE instruction will thus be sent from a line Ln to the printer 16 so that the previously printed underlineless character C will be underlined in the correct position. The signal giving a PRINT-UNDERLINE instruction generated in the line Ln will further be delivered to a delay circuit 27. The output from the delay circuit 27 will appear a given time after the character C has been underlined and will be fed to the printing position shifting device 24 through the OR gate 23.

With the character C so underlined, the printing position will be shifted by one character, making preparations for underlining the succeeding character D.

Now, when the print data of the character D is delivered from the character input device 12, the PRINT instruction of the character D will be given from the de coder to the printer 16 on a line L3 to print the character D. Since the AND gate 20 in this case is disabled, the printing position will not be shifted even when the character D is printed. When the underline data is given to the decoder 15 by the output of the AND gate 19, the PRlNT-UNDERLINE instruction will be given to the printer 16 on the line Ln the character D to underline the character D so as to cause the two adjacent underlines of characters C and D to be unbroken. Thereafter, the printing position will be shifted by one character as in the preceding character C.

Preparations for the subsequent character E will thus be completed.

Now when a coded signal releasing the printing of the underline is fed to the binary counter 21, the output of the counter 21 will become 0, thereby disabling the AND gate 19 and feeding the signal representing 1 to the AND gate 20 through the inverter 22. Under this condition, when the binary-coded print data of a PRINT instruction of the character E is delivered from the character input device 12, this PRINT instruction signal will be delivered from the decoder 15 to the printer 16 on a prescribed line (not shown) to print the character E, as in the preceding characters A and B. The signal representing the SHIFT-PRINT-POSITION command will be sent from the OR gate 18 to the printing position shifting device 24 through the AND gate 20 and OR gate 23 a given time after the character E has been completely printed. The printing position will be shifted to that of the succeeding character F.

Thus the characters CD to be underlined out of a set of characters ABCDEF will be effectively printed and underlined without backspacing.

In the conventional printing apparatus, the printing position is unfailingly shifted after printing by a SHIFT- instruction signal to make printing preparations. In practice, however, the PRINT-UNDERLINE instruction signal may also be used instead of the SHIFT- instru'ction signal, depending on the underline signal.

Although the foregoing description refers to the printed underlines in one-to-one correspondence with the printed characters, an open space also may be underlined in a similar manner. Therefore, one whole sen tence may also be underlined by regarding it as a unit print data and adding a symbol immediately before and after the whole sentence to be printed.

Although the foregoing description refers to the start and end of an underline with the same code the binary counter 21 may also be replaced, for example, by using flip-flops expressed in terms of set and reset when the start code differs from the end code.

In summary, the present invention provides a new and improved printing apparatus capable of effectively printing a special mark step by step without backspacing. This is very effective not only in employing ordinary manual character printers but also in automatically recording data from various data processing devices.

What is claimed is:

l. A printing apparatus for selectively impressing a special mark such as, for example, a line above or below characters of a word or words consisting of at least one character, comprising:

an input device (11) for providing information code signals each corresponding to each of said characters, and function code signals to be located immediately before and after said information code signals for at least one character;

a printing device (16) responsive to the information code signals obtained from said input device (11) for printing characters;

generating means (17,18) coupled to said input device (11) for generating a signal representing a printing operation;

a printing position shifting device (24) coupled to said input device (11) and to said printing device (16) for stepping said printing device responsive to said signal representing a printing operation thereof;

memory means (21) coupled to said input device (1 1) for memorizing the input state of the function code signal preceding the information code signals for said at least one character and including means for clearing an input state of said function code sig nal responsive to a further function code signal following said information code signals; and

control means (20) coupled to said memory means (21 to said generating means (17,18) and to said printing position shifting device (24) and responsive to said signal representing a printing operation to control the printing device (16) during the memorizing period of said memory means (21) for selectively causing said printing device (16) not to perform a stepping function immediately after its printing operation of each character of said at least one character so as to allow a special mark designated by the function code signal whose input state is memorized by the memory means (21) to be printed at least above or below the character just printed, said control means (20) being responsive to clearance of said memory means to permit said printing device 16) to perform a stepping function after printing of a character responsive to said signal generated by said generating means.

2 A printing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes means (19, 25, 26) coupled to said printing device (16) and responsive to said memory means memorizing a function code signal for causing said printing device (16) to print said special mark immediately after a printing operation of a character and during the period of time that said stepping function is not performed under control of said control means.

3. A printing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means further comprises means (27) coupled to said input device (1 1) and to said printing position shifting device (24), and responsive to a signal representing a printing operation of a special mark for causing said printing device (16) to perform a stepping function a predetermined period of time after receipt of said signal representing a printing operation of a special mark.

4. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an AND gate (20), one input of which is coupled to the output of said memory means and the other input of which is coupled to said generating means to receive said signal representing a printing operation, the output of said AND gate being coupled to said printing position shifting device (24).

5. A printing apparatus accordingn to claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises an OR gate (17) coupled to ,said input device and responsive to coded signals provided by said input device, and a delay means (18) coupled to the output of said OR gate and providing said signal representing a printing operation a predetermined period of time after the appearance of said information code signals.

6. A printing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means comprises means for causing said printing device to print said special mark during the memorizing period of said memory means and after printing of a character, and for then causing said printing device to perform a stepping function after printing of said special mark, said last mentioned means including an AND gate (19) one input of which is coupled to the output of said memory means and the other input of which is coupled to the output of said delay means (18) of said generating means; gating means (25,26) responsive to the output of said AND gate (19) for generating a coded signal corresponding to said special mark, said printing device being responsive to said coded signal corresponding to said special mark for printing said special mark after printing of a character and before performing said stepping function; and second delay means (27) coupled to said generating means and responsive to said signal representing a printing operation of a special mark for causing said printing device to perform a stepping function after printing of said special mark. 

1. A printing apparatus for selectively impressing a special mark such as, for example, a line above or below characters of a word or words consisting of at least one character, comprising: an input device (11) for providing information code signals each corresponding to each of said characters, and function code signals to be located immediately before and after said information code signals for at least one character; a printing device (16) responsive to the information code signals obtained from said input device (11) for printing characters; generating means (17,18) coupled to said input device (11) for generating a signal representing a printing operation; a printing position shifting device (24) coupled to said input device (11) and to said printing Device (16) for stepping said printing device responsive to said signal representing a printing operation thereof; memory means (21) coupled to said input device (11) for memorizing the input state of the function code signal preceding the information code signals for said at least one character and including means for clearing an input state of said function code signal responsive to a further function code signal following said information code signals; and control means (20) coupled to said memory means (21), to said generating means (17,18) and to said printing position shifting device (24) and responsive to said signal representing a printing operation to control the printing device (16) during the memorizing period of said memory means (21) for selectively causing said printing device (16) not to perform a stepping function immediately after its printing operation of each character of said at least one character so as to allow a special mark designated by the function code signal whose input state is memorized by the memory means (21) to be printed at least above or below the character just printed, said control means (20) being responsive to clearance of said memory means to permit said printing device (16) to perform a stepping function after printing of a character responsive to said signal generated by said generating means.
 2. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes means (19, 25, 26) coupled to said printing device (16) and responsive to said memory means memorizing a function code signal for causing said printing device (16) to print said special mark immediately after a printing operation of a character and during the period of time that said stepping function is not performed under control of said control means.
 3. A printing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means further comprises means (27) coupled to said input device (11) and to said printing position shifting device (24), and responsive to a signal representing a printing operation of a special mark for causing said printing device (16) to perform a stepping function a predetermined period of time after receipt of said signal representing a printing operation of a special mark.
 4. A printing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an AND gate (20), one input of which is coupled to the output of said memory means and the other input of which is coupled to said generating means to receive said signal representing a printing operation, the output of said AND gate (20) being coupled to said printing position shifting device (24).
 5. A printing apparatus accordingn to claim 1 wherein said generating means comprises an OR gate (17) coupled to said input device and responsive to coded signals provided by said input device, and a delay means (18) coupled to the output of said OR gate and providing said signal representing a printing operation a predetermined period of time after the appearance of said information code signals.
 6. A printing apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said control means comprises means for causing said printing device to print said special mark during the memorizing period of said memory means and after printing of a character, and for then causing said printing device to perform a stepping function after printing of said special mark, said last mentioned means including an AND gate (19) one input of which is coupled to the output of said memory means and the other input of which is coupled to the output of said delay means (18) of said generating means; gating means (25,26) responsive to the output of said AND gate (19) for generating a coded signal corresponding to said special mark, said printing device being responsive to said coded signal corresponding to said special mark for printing said special mark after printing of a character and before performing said stepping function; and second delay means (27) coupled to said generating means and responsive to said signal representing a printing operation of a special mark for causing said printing device to perform a stepping function after printing of said special mark. 